Emerson Buckley

Buckley led the world premieres of two important American operas – The Ballad of Baby Doe (with Beverly Sills in the title role) (1956);.

"[1] Buckley was taken seriously by several leading opera singers, including Plácido Domingo, who admired his thorough preparation and ability to pull performances together with limited rehearsal time.

He conducted many of Pavarotti's concerts, from Boston's Esplanade (before 110,000 people) to a Las Vegas hotel, and collaborated with him on several nationally televised performances.

Despite acute back pain that had curtailed his activity, Buckley conducted L'elisir d'amore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, seven months before his death.

He also was signed to conduct Pavarotti's appearance at the Miami Arena in early 1990, but had bowed out due to his increasing health deterioration.

The wife and sons survived Buckley when he died of emphysema at his residence in North Miami Beach on Friday, 17 November 1989.